First Night :: First Date

After playing and freezing at First Night,

we continued the fun at Pike's Soda Shop

to continue our New Year's Even traditions.

Enjoying every last drop of his ice cream despite the cold temperatures! 

 Alekzander & Adi  :: Such Sweetness

Conner & Anderson :: Chaperoning their big sibling's date

{Alekzander sweetly observed during dinner 

that everybody had a "friend" to talk to :: 

Mommy talks to other Mommy, Daddy to other Daddy, 

babies talk together, and big kids talk, too. Perfect!}

Always a story to tell or a rule to explain!

At the soda shop counter

Anderson's First Christmas

Christmas came and went in a few camera flashes.

We woke up late {though Anderson and I were up before the sun},

held off on presents until Anderson had his second breakfast,

and then watched the wonder unfold under the Christmas tree.

For Anderson, it was a flurry of paper and presents,

and he was completely content observing the scene from

the comfort of a warm blanket in the middle of our craziness.

 Pre-presents

During presents :: Distracted by Mommy's camera strap

Post-presents :: Checking out the gifts

Christmas Eve 2013

After a special Christmas Eve dinner with our Wood-friends,

we came back to get ready for Santa.

Alekzander and Andrew left Santa a note 

{explaining that it was Jesus' birthday} 

with milk and cookies and some celery for the reindeer 

{because everyone leaves carrots and we wanted to provide some variety}.

...And then Syra helped herself to the milk and cookies.

She didn't think Santa was watching since he was already flying over South America.

{Cookies were replenished for Santa's sake!}

Christmas presents for/from family and some good Swistak boys and girl!

Merry Christmas to all.

And to all a good night!

Merry Christmas {Card 2013}

{and another version}

Strollin'

 Enjoying some fresh air and a winning Broncos season makes Anderson a happy baby

12.16.13

{Silly boy}

Matching brothers

12.17.13

Crazy Octopus Dance Doctor Alekzander

This kid.

So smart. So sweet. So sentimental.

The things that come out of his mouth never cease to amaze me.

{Unless it's spit bubbles or chewed up food.}

Today on a walk, he said,

"This grass is different than this one. 

{Noticing the color; one brown, one green.}  

Maybe this one got watered and this one did not."

He has been living out his dream playing doctor 

to live patients instead of stuffed ones.

It has been a week of shared germs and miserable days for me and Andrew.

But our little sunshine doctor keeps offering up things to 

"feel you better".  He spent two days moving around the heating pad 

for me because my whole body ached.  He delivered dinner to bed for me.

He got me a pillow to sit on when we played together on the floor.

"Maybe this will feel you better?"

Such a good caretaker of his patients.

He loves to make his brother laugh.

And concurrently makes the house rattle

by stomping and jumping and clapping

to get Anderson's giggle going.

And he knows just what to do to make any of us crack a smile.

He knows when he pushes my buttons,

constantly makes me laugh...

My favorite thing he does is the 

crazy dance-freeze frame-surprised face-scared octopus.

I even let him do it while standing on the furniture.

As crazy as he makes me some days

{the days when rest time isn't restful nor quiet, 

when listening ears don't listen,

and a stubborn mom's boy is following in her footsteps...}

he is so fun, so easy to love!

And always, such a good big brother.

First Bites

First bites brought to you by the {proud} big brother.

Anderson was so ready for this.

Alekzander was so ready for this.

Andrew was ready to try out the Baby Bullet.

I didn't want to bite the bullet; 

I wanted my baby to stay a baby.

No food for you, Anderson.

Except you were hungry.

And mad that you didn't have food at dinner.

And lunging toward me as I put my soup spoon in my mouth.

So casually I said, "Two days til food"

which turned into a song and then a countdown.

Two days from Friday night's dinner,

Anderson would be 5 months old.

{A month older than when Alekzander had his first bite 

:: and well within the suggested time frame to begin 'solids'.}

Alekzander is a big fan of countdowns.

So the next day he announced, "One day until food!"

And then on Sunday, "Today you get to eat food!"

He was so excited, and also so aware of milestones

and the fact that this was a big milestone.

More and more, I love the age difference

between Alekzander and Anderson.

Not to mention the intense love and admiration

that is already evident between the brothers!

Alekzander wanted to be involved in the feeding process

from start to finish :: he helped me measure the rice grains,

dump them in the Baby Bullet; 

he and I both jumped a foot and then laughed

as I began to grind the rice.  

He wanted to help cook the rice, 

so he poured the rice 'powder' in the water.

And then we waited and waited and waited.

And then portioned and cooled.

The results {brown basmati rice mush aka rice cereal}

were well received and delivered initially by Alekzander

{until I had taken enough pictures and got jealous}.

Anderson ate and enjoyed.

The milestone was documented.

And a whole new world of messy began!

 First Bite :: December 15, 2013

5 months old

Homemade Brown Rice Cereal

Five Months

My sweet boy.

Even though you are always with me, 

it is rare that we are ever alone.

Today, we stole some moments away to play.

You are intense, determined, focused.

During your fourth month, we learned that 
you are silly and ticklish and have the best baby belly laugh.

You are finding your voice and make all kinds of noises.

{one of my favorites is a high-pitched parrot noise

though your voice is raspy and not at all high-pitched!}

When you cry, it is with all your might.

As soon as I pick you up, you stop, immediately. {I love that.}

When I get you out of your crib, you hang on to 

my right shoulder with your  left hand.

{A real baby hug, I think!}

Your legs are chunky and so strong.

You spend half your day standing and will probably 

sit up on your own before you roll over!

Everything goes in your mouth and you are more interested in toys, 

especially if they go in your mouth!

You love watching your brother perform for you.

You laugh and laugh at him so he stomps/jumps/acts crazy again and again!

You still fall asleep sometimes when you eat, which makes me fall asleep too.

You also can fall asleep within one minute of being in the car, but 

then you wake up as soon as we get home. 

 {A 5-minute cat-nap is not a nap.}

You always fight sleep for a while, 

Second-Child-Afraid-to-Miss-Anything.

You will fall asleep in my arms or on my shoulder if I sway you, 

and go to sleep in your crib after lots of crying or fussing in protest.

Then you sleep. Peacefully. Quickly.

Naps are not long lived {45 minutes}, 

and you are so predictable.

But then again, every day is different 

and we learn something new about you

as you learn about your world. 

Learn, laugh, play, grow!

Happy 5 months, sweet Anderson.

Singing Bears III

Traditions are traditions ... 

because a mom somewhere dressed up her kids, 

washed faces, packed snacks, and finally made it 

to a magical destination, had fun herself, 

and insisted upon going again and again 

regardless of the opinions of her children.

At least that is how I believe this tradition is unfolding.

I always get excited about the "Singing Bears" and this year 

even convinced my sister and mother to come along; 

I may or may not have explained exactly what these bears were,

and there may have been some confusion and/or disappointment upon arrival,

but I still think Leonard Bearstein {and his accompanying orchestra}

is quite charming ... you can't help but sing along to Christmas carols 

and take your picture by the bears ... unless you are Alekzander!!!

{He did enjoy eating a bagel and climbing all over the benches,

but he was not into the bears ... yet again.}

Anderson had no choice but to pose with ATB & Mommy. 

 Mia and her boys

ATB and Anderson 

{"Just one more picture please."}

Jump Baby Jump

First time in his jumper ...

Not a lot of jumping going on yet, 

but Anderson was mildly tolerant of hanging from the doorway

and enduring Alekzander's and my "Jump Baby Jump!" chant.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish by Alekzander 

{12.6.13}

Little ears are always listening...

Our ATB had just returned from her fabulous honeymoon 

and told me about a traumatic jellyfish sting

unlike anything we had every experienced in Virginia Beach.

Alekzander heard my half of the phone conversation 

and later that morning took his chalk and drew a jellyfish!  

I can never tell who is more impressed :: 

the mommy of a {ridiculously smart, talented} 4 year old - 

or the 4 year old artist whose creation was recognized as the intended subject.

Christmas 'Jamas Resurrected

Two babies. 

One pair of pajamas. 

Separated by four years.

{Alekzander :: 2 weeks old; December 2009}

 {Anderson :: 4.5 months old; December 2013}

Joy in the Tree

So excited to find a Christmas tree!

How can you not share in his joy?

A skip, hop, throw your hand up kind of happiness.

That is what I want for Christmas.

Not quite sharing in the joy 

{of being an ornament perched in the branches}

but we are excited to celebrate...

2013 Tree

On Santa's Good List

 Anderson's first encounter with Santa

Santa loved Anderson 

 ... and Anderson loved Santa's beard;

I had to pry it out of his hand! 

{It was real!}

 This year's request :: a rocket!?!

 Loving Santa

Alekzander told Santa that Anderson had been a good boy.

And Alekzander certainly is a great big brother.

{No line and an accomodating Santa 

... everyone wants a family picture for Christmas!} 

 On the good list {most days!}

Sweetest boy